Toy clamshell bucket



Aug. '17, 1943. o. P. ERHARDT TOY CLAMSHELL BUCKET Filed Jan. 22, 1942 ATTORNEY on pivot spindle 44 journaled inthe spaced arms of the shackle block. A coupling loop 24 has its a I ends securedto the respective ends of.spindle.44 which projectnoutside of the shackle block so that loop 24 is free to swingrelative to shackle .both to thegspindle =44 and tothe shackle ;block-;

32 and 35 remain swung open as shown inFigs.

f1 and 2. Normally these jaws or complemental bucket sections are thus heldopenby the combined weight of the free plunger 29, the wrist pin 3|, of the spacer collars 42; 43 and of the bucket sections themselves, In 7 this condition block l5 while sheave 30 is free, to rotate relative. V

' cred permitting the bucket ;to drop abruptly uponl5. If desired, spindle 44 may comprise a tubular rivet, eyelet or the like. Thus the clam-shell bucket as a unit may be suspended bymeans or,

a flexible cord (not shown) passinglaroundthe sheave or by a hoist cable or chain, as .43, hereirLJ afterdescribed. 1 g V The terminals of the winding; 26' of insulated electrical conductive wire of solenoid I! are con 28 which may extend from the bucket to a re--: mote source of electric current for ,ienergizing and deenergizing' the solenoid while leaving the bucket free to be transportedinall directions to any distance within its de'signed": range 'of working-movements".

Vertically reciprocative ber of solenoidbarrel l-6 is "a'"plunger'rod 29 whose upperportion. at least is of readily mag netizable material and whose projectinglower within {the core cham- I the cable supported loop 24 can suddenly be lowthe'top "of a pile of sand or other dislodgeable electric switch (not shown), the solenoid winding 26 can be electrically'energized throughwires 21; 28 thus creating a. strong magnetic field around the core sleeve I6 which will serve to draw .15

the plunger '29 ."sma'rtly upward and raise the wrist pin, 3| a corresponding distance. This elecnected respectively to long flexible leads 2'] and SE-to swing toward ea ch other to their'positions' shcwnin Fig. '4 whereupon they bite into and under thesand or other looselcad material so that the bucket" jaws cooperate automatically to scoop up: intoj'theresulting closed bucket a load of suchsand orotherloose material.

'As-ilong asthesolenoid remains electrically energized the bucketijaws 32 and 35 will remain closed and will retainthe contained load of ma- --terial sothat thecable 40 of :the .crane or derend, as best shown in Fig. 6, is-bored-crosswise to receive and provide 'snug pivotal fit for the horizontal-wrist pin 3| extending at right angles thereto. Each ofthe'op positefends of wrist: pin

3| has pivotal engagementwith-two-overlapping ends Walls 32 of two relatively swingable'; jawoi these sectionswhich are mostrenioteffr om wrist pin 3| are provided with anchorageholes 36 in which respectively are loosely hooked "the bottom ends 31 of the suspension links [4; i It I will be noted that the loopsL31=f are disposedpin' quarter'twisted relation to loops f'l 3 whereby limited'free'dom' for the bucket sectionsto swing in universal'directions' is provided. ii 7 A'fiat thrust washer 38separates c'ne flattened er-1a --of the wrist pin 3| -from -the'adjacent end walls 32' of the bucket sections while-a che'ck tab 39 of inverted 'U-shape hangs'on' thejrelatively movable topedges 'of the opposite overlapping end walls 32 of the bucket sections'and contains a vertically elongated slot 4l which is occupied f by the opposite terminal portion offthe: wrist r pin' 3| between the other flattened end 0f l the latterand'said overlapping endwalls 32; thereby tc-serve as astop limiting the' degr'ee' otf'opening movement of thetwo bucket sections 33 and 34. Spacer collars'42and 43 serve to' maint'ain the solenoid plunge'r ZScentralof-the wrist {pin Y I swinging fderrick,traveling crane,-or the like,

whereby. the""bucket may {be transported toa' point over any desired area. within the rangeof movement of the derrick armor crane 'and'be raised and lowered at will by meansof. such cable. The ileiri-ble electric cord 25 is--Iunder-.

loop'24 and thereby'thejentire- (31 m rick arm can then lift'the bucket and its load to any desired elevation and transport; it to a position over'any location,- withinttheirange ofactionlof: the toy, v'ir'ifvlhich it may be desired to dump theload." Dumping is effected by merely cuttingofi'the su'pply of current tothe solenoid through appropriate manipulation of the aforementioned remote control switch. Thereupon plunger 29 will ceaseto be attracted upwardly and with its associated parts -will drop to the po sition'shown inFigs. 1; 2 -and*5 assisted'by the weight of the "load acting.luponwthe swingable bucket sections themselves This causes the bucket 'jawsflsuddenly to swing apart and thus discharge the bucket contained loadofisand so that thesand drops straight downward. My 1m proved bucket is thus operated through' a -re- -mote source of control and pre'ferably electrically in a way to. make unnecessary any supplemental cablesrunning .to the: bucket sections" for. mechanically actuating them; I

In'certainof the appended claims the'wrist. pin 3| "and equivalents therefor is termed-a-hinge element and itwill besee'n to-establish a common axis about which'the bucketsections are swing- 'ablyz-movable at the same time that they swing I about their points of-suspensionfrom the links It will further be understood that the enl4. gagenient .of the looped ends of these links with the anchorage holes I2 and-- 36' loose. to a do? .gree permittin'g dangling or substantial weaving or twisting action. of thebucket sections in unison -and'in universaldirections relative to the: 7

suspension head. In other-wordsthe above said common axis'of wrist pin 3l i 'free'to swing relative to suspension head lo'within limits in all directions in-a horizontal iplane; This prestood to connect with some stationary remote source; of current supply and to be jloose and long enough-to trail the toybucket without of- .vents binding' in action and avoids the necessity of a nice fits and enables the'lips 33, '34 .of the bucket sections "-to betterindividually adjust "themselves and grab into the loose material being 1 scooped up as the bucket sections-bitetogether.

feiing resistance to its movements or being used in any way to actuate the 'bucket'parts mechanically.'.;

Thus the bucket may be; maneuveredinto a sition above, say; a pile "orsand whileits jaws There may also be a generous degree of loosecore sleeve [6.

ness' in the fit of plunger: 29 'wlthinthe solenoid -Many modifications of detail and structure :will be suggested to those skilled m the art by the disclosure hereof and the appended claims referto stitutes and equivalents mchjco e, i hip their a V I terms'.

is t 1 V1, movesiuliwardfin'said core;

amalitomatic toyfelam shelllbucket embodying tethnhaiiinganeitin" an uppermost crosshead attacIieTdto 'ble; .head 'strncture above s I fan 'automa'tic itoyblam-"s'helljbucket embodying es and emf-intendedito 'be' iiilusivef a1l fain sub" o ir am a a J meat es iv .'{1." Ioy loadfdigging 'and ho stliifg app f including in combinationwith a toy lifting-cable; miner,-

eth rhavm mating iips, *sep'arate su pension 5 head, and a nio'valb'learmature "disposedfconstant to electricalenergization o'f the latter; and con bucket-sections iniiirectionsto move':saidbucket. *2'0' S t s ted d feacl other-thereby "to "closeft'lie A were movement of Se V budketse'dtioifsi l nar? b 'e cluding'in combination withatoy ft'ingizable, Jffit;

k H ndfl oistingi-appa tiis an'fupperr'nos't crosshejadlattaiched to said"cable; fi l Pg N fi babet a l'j w like'fbuc'ket'sections pivotally coupled "t'ooy *olamshellrbucket#embody i therhaym amn Iipgfjlrn'fks'suspendingsaid extending eaa'pmt'eettachea to aid calblefstifi 'z-bt i'cket sectionsand: separately "coupled "pivotally 7 links iliarait yf ahl sw ne b y to saiid cr oss'h'ead *structiire', an l' mom-asset ait- 3o il'iead 'rilate at-horizontally s a tach'edffixedly to 'and dependingifrom saidcross- I sa y, witliinfrangediattraetioniofsaiii elect! 1 magnet "therebyito performfimoy ment" fin "re- "'s'jponsefto lectrical"energization'of the 'latterand.

conhecte to said f'bucket 'sections in such nfan- Said blwket's'ections 'ingiiirect'ions itpiimove 'sa-idi f 1 I? libsisepai'ate'linksstispendedly' mated bucket "section's *respectivelyx't' trical energi'zationj oi said winding t'heflreby' to tions between said bueketfs'eeti headstructureadapted for attachmentto a'toy s r s i liftingcable, a vertically elongated hollow sole- 65 vfioyc a-mshell bucket embodyin a orizontal bucket Iipsmwara each otherthelbyio."

thebncket.

' V. i 1; rically gon'trollable 'self opening and mshellfbucket includingjthe om-V liiiksfand gabov e sai' bucket r V 7 make sectionspivotally coiipled togetl'ijerfhai ing atin'g he irsaid common axis '1 el lv toa aid heed "plalt e am n mn rrat Grammy-me l ad j g; i l ih t il arat a which the .said links are move upwardwithinsaid n uoweore anil'con net plunger-constructed and 'ar Swinging-movements,fdfjthe bucket 7 I i wardeach otl er when'sai'd pli' ngr .m sj ID ward' 4; A self-operating toy, clali lshell bucket v eluding the combination of,' an.upperrnost crosss' v app-irate including" i noid core fixed to and-depending from said crossj plate-like suspension head attached to said 'cable .head structure, an electrical solenoid winding having laterally spaced turned down ears conaround said core, jaW-likebucket' sections pivottaining Spaced anchorage holesg at least four links ally coupled together, rigid links suspendedly cona bent 2 form D IOOPS at their upper ends hooked necting said bucket sections respectively tocsaid 7 into said holes respectively with a danglingjloo se crosshead structure, and a magnetizable plunger bit and bent to :form bottom loops at'theirlower operatively independent of saidcable'attractable ends, jaw-likej bucket sections having 'spaced 1 v by the electrical energization of said winding to anchorage holes into which said. bottom floops move upward within said core, and connections hookwithadaiagling loose bit, a hinge element between said bucket: sections and-said plungeif 75 pivotally connecting said bucketsections f orrelav N 4 eletltiiiclenergization of said'w dingandjthere -n I n cte'tim-said "bucketsectiolis in suehmanner -lzyfp u d te qv frfward m S, cb qalidw -that saiid"inoy el r ent'o fftheiannature*irnpels'sfagiti- -nections fib'etwe'e saidplunger-andsa dihuclget; I

' arrangedfthatjuparatosas" i =-fou'rlin'ritilnber ahdmfre collpled ten-mo thes'aid 7 head iplatea'andto the its-aid bucket section's in- "a manner ipemnittingwlimitedzswinging movement of -universal,"directions 1 h of said linkshaslooped 11g came; "a a i v sw in m m ntab u asomin a vertical rod connected jtolsaid hingeelement, 7

a guideway constraining said;rod:to a-tpath oi longitudinal movementrelativeto said head, and means to reciprocate said rod along said path in a manner-to caus said relative swinging move ment of saidrbucket sectionswhil'e th'e latter'a're suspendedfrom said ;link s. it -r 10. A toy clamshell bucket embodying in cornbination, a head adapted to dangle; from a" hoist cable, a solenoid depending centrally and fixedly from said'h'eadhaving anormally vertical axis,

a vertical-plunger rodmovableupward and downward the magnetic field ofsaid solenoid, a

horizontal hinge pin lodged tightly in a cross hole extending crosswise the lower' end of saidz-rod,

complemental jaw-like bucket sections having overlapping flanges pivotally engaging each' end of said pivot pin, and means to suspend said,

bucket sections swinginglyfrom said head. i i ll. A toy clamshell bucket as defined in claim .10, together with tubular spacer collars carried by'the said wrist pin between the said'plunger rod and the said overlapping portionsjoi the said bucket sections for affordingaligning thrust to centralize said bucket sectionsrin lateral rela- "tion to the said'solenoid and also weightingdownward said hinged portions of the bucketsections.

-12. A toy clamshell bucket embodying in combination; a solenoid spool equipped 'at-one end rea es! ,relativexswinging movement of said' bucket sec- 'tions. i.

14. Toy load digging and hoisting apparatus including in combination with a lifting'cable, a toy 'clamshellbucketembodying .a suspension head attached to said cable, links swingably V coupled to said headat laterally spacedanchorage points, jaw-like bucket sections swung from said links, a bodily liftable hinge element pivotwith a loopfor suspending the-same in a vertical I 1 position from} ahoist cable; ahead plate overlying and fixed to the topend-of-saidyspool prea senting four spaced anchoragelugs at points blanking the top 7' end} of said SPOOL-11.01.11 ,links dangling from said anchorage lugs in ajmanner to be swingable in all directions alongside said and; actuating mechanism connected to'bs'aid bucket sections constructed and arranged to be 'motivated jbysaid solenoid in'a manner to swing said sections relativeto said spool in a manner to cause said lips to meet; q v

13; Toy load digging and hoisting apparatus ally connecting said bucket sections in a manner when lifted to ca'use relativeswingingmovement of the latter about a commonaxis to closedrelationship, a plunger rod connected to said hinge element in a manner to lift the latter bodily when magnetically attracted, a vertical spool-like structure having its top ,end fixedlysecured to a central portion of said head'flanked by said anchorage points, said structure containing a vertically -elongated core chamber constraining said rod to endwise sliding movement. therewithim,

cable, a solenoid fixed'to and dependingcentrally from said head having a normally vertical axis, a vertical plunger rod movable upward i and downward inrthemagnetic field of said solenoid, a

' horizontal wrist .pin car'ried by the lower;end of said rod, complemental' jaw-like bucket sections 7 havingpo'rtionsthereof hinged on saidwrist pin,

and means swin'gably to'suspend said bucket sections from said l ead,.together with; stop ieng agn ving said hinged portions ofsaid bucket sections A and engaged by said wrist pin in'a manner to spool, complementali jaw-like bucket sections I swung loosely from said links having mating lips; 40

including in combination with alifting cable, a toy clamshell bucket embodying a; suspension head attached to saidcable, 'linksswingably' coupled to said head at'laterallyspaced anchorage points, jaw-like bucket sections swung {from said links, a'hinge' element pivotally connecting said fbucket sections and permitting ,"relative swinging movement of the latter about a common axis to closed relationship.a ma'gneticallyattractable plunger rod connected to said hinge element,

a vertical spool-like structurehavingits top end secured to a central'portion of said head flanked by said anchorage points,- said "structure? co tainingra vertically elongated cdre chamber constraining said rodto endwise sliding movement therewithin, andaiwinding of "solenoid wire on said spool like structure operative to attract said rod'magnetically into said chamber forcausing .said lodp.

1 18. A toy clamshell bucket as defined in claim ;16, together with a pivot spindle journaled in limit the relative swinging movementnof .said bucketsections about said wrist pin in atleast one direction. 7 16,. A toy clamshell bucket bination,"a solenoid spool adapted to be suspended itsf'axis vertically disposed, a shackle block fixed on thetop of said spool, a sheave pivotally mounted on saidshackle block, a looppivotally mounted on and straddling said shackle block,

a head structure fixed on the top or said spoolproividing spaced anchorage lugs, links depending [Ironisaid lugs, andcQOperatiVe-buQket sections pivotally 'supportedb y said links. 1

.17..,A-'toy clamshell bucket as defined in claim 7 Vin .whichjthe'said sheave a nd the said loop are ivotally mounted in ccaxial, relation.

the said shackle block and extending through both'the said sheave and the said loop. v V r ,;.19.' A toyclarnshell bucket as defined in claim f e, n which the said shackle block is U-shaped 'oo andincludes laterally spaced upright arms flankmg respectively opposite sides of the saidsheave and 'flanked respectively by opposite ends of the OSCAR P ERHARDTQ embodying com- 7 T" y} M CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 2,326,95h. August'l7, 191g.

OSCAR P. ERHARDT.

It' is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 62, after "derrick" insert --arm--; page 5, second column, line 58, claim 8, for "end" read --and--; lines 71 and 71;, claim 9, for "bit' read --fit-- page 11., first column, line 55, claim 12, for "blanking" read --flanking--; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in Patent Office.

Sign d and s aled this 12th day of October, A. D. 1911,}.

Henry Van Arsdale,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents, 

